FORNEY, Texas – Laurren Smith lost her battle to osteosarcoma, a rare cancer, in December of 2009, but the message she had to everyone continues to live on.
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Now Laurren's parents, Brian and Patty Smith, are sharing her message to Forney Independent School District students. On Wednesday morning, March 19, 2014, the Smiths visited Criswell Elementary, the same school Laurren attended from Kindergarten to 6th grade, and delivered the message to 180 5th and 6th graders.
Patty told the students about Laurren's journey, from her diagnosis of cancer, to her chemotherapy, her hospital visits, and her day-to-day activities. In the beginning, “Laurren was scared, angry, and upset,” said Patty Smith.
“Her attitude changed,” she said. “What we started to see in her was that she had an amazing attitude that developed from such a difficult journey. What we found out with Laurren's journey with cancer is that she had a message for us.”
In a September 2009 interview with NBC 5, Laurren talked about her message. “I didn't pray for God to heal me, I prayed for God to give me a positive attitude,” Laurren said in the interview.
“Laurren is just one girl,” said her dad Brian Smith. “And if she can leave an impact on so many people, think what each of you can do.”
To conclude the event, each of the students wore a pink “positive attitude” bracelet, raised their hand with the bracelet into the air, and yelled “positive attitude” – in solidarity.
The Smiths also met with approximately 430 students at Lewis Elementary on Friday, March 21, 2014, and have vowed to continue spreading Laurren's message.
For more information about Laurren, Laurren's Closet, and Love for Laurren, visit their website.
Patty told the students about Laurren's journey, from her diagnosis of cancer, to her chemotherapy, her hospital visits, and her day-to-day activities. In the beginning, “Laurren was scared, angry, and upset,” said Patty Smith.
“Her attitude changed,” she said. “What we started to see in her was that she had an amazing attitude that developed from such a difficult journey. What we found out with Laurren's journey with cancer is that she had a message for us.”
In a September 2009 interview with NBC 5, Laurren talked about her message. “I didn't pray for God to heal me, I prayed for God to give me a positive attitude,” Laurren said in the interview.
“Laurren is just one girl,” said her dad Brian Smith. “And if she can leave an impact on so many people, think what each of you can do.”
To conclude the event, each of the students wore a pink “positive attitude” bracelet, raised their hand with the bracelet into the air, and yelled “positive attitude” – in solidarity.
The Smiths also met with approximately 430 students at Lewis Elementary on Friday, March 21, 2014, and have vowed to continue spreading Laurren's message.
For more information about Laurren, Laurren's Closet, and Love for Laurren, visit their website.